Côtes du Rhône Côtes du Rhône & Côtes du Rhône-Villages

I tasted more wines this year from the most basic appellation of AC Côtes du Rhône that scored 90 points or above than ever before – a testament to the vintage and to the increasing quality of winemaking in the region. Most are red, but there are also some whites at this level that really excelled.

The next rung up on the appellation ladder, AC Côtes du Rhône-Villages, is a mixed bag but there are some smart buys if you know where to look. Of the villages that can append their name to the appellation, Visan and Valréas lead the pack with vivid aromatics, balance and striking northern freshness. Two newly established names, Ste-Cécile and Suze la Rousse, are now firing on all cylinders despite some instances of overenthusiastic extraction. Though more mixed in quality, Plan de Dieu offers some agreeably punchy wines and Sablet expresses its characteristic elegance.

‘I tasted more wines in 2016 from the most basic appellation of AC Côtes du Rhône that scored 90 points or above than ever before’ Matt Walls

Above: Jean-Pierre Verdeau and his daughter Mathilde of Domaine de lÕAmandine Matt Walls is a consulting editor for Decanter and the DWWA Regional Chair for the Rhône